Washington (CNN) – Those of us who've walked into the wrong classroom or business meeting know the feeling; the sudden sensation of oops, the quick apology, the urge to back away without losing too much dignity. One United States senator had exactly that feeling Wednesday.

Republican John McCain accidentally walked in on a Capitol Hill meeting Democrats were having with President Barack Obama.
In response to media reports Wednesday afternoon, McCain tweeted: "I opened the wrong door, looked in and saw the President, said "my mistake" and everybody laughed."

"Lighten up everybody," the tweet continued.

McCain did not stay for the meeting despite what was reportedly a good-natured invitation from Obama to join Senate Democrats. Obama met with Congressional Democrats Wednesday to push agenda items like the economy, climate change and ensuring the implementation of Obamacare.

The 2008 nominee for president, McCain has become more and more prominent as something of an intermediary in Congress recently, planning a trip to Egypt at Obama's request, praising the president's speech about the Trayvon Martin verdict while calling for a review of Stand Your Ground laws and even calling a presidential race between fellow Republican Rand Paul and Democrat Hillary Clinton a "tough choice."

soundoff(116 Responses)

The question is will the Maverick run for President again? He had it tough during his 2008 election with Obama. Philosophy tells us you advance as much as your team advances.

August 1, 2013 02:24 am at 2:24 am |

JohnParryJones

The good Senator from Arizona just needs to retire in Sedona. After all his political career has made him a very wealthy man.

August 1, 2013 02:25 am at 2:25 am |

Finrod

McCain belongs in the Democratic caucus anyways, he might as well make it official.

August 1, 2013 02:47 am at 2:47 am |

Kaelinda

I'm glad to see McCain moving toward the center and away from the Tea Party Republicans. I'm glad he and Obama are speaking to each other – and speaking cordially, not just civilly. McCain is a great American, and he might have won the election in 2008 if he hadn't been saddled with Palin. She is the reason I voted for Obama. McCain can do a lot of good in this congress now that he's gotten over his snit about losing the election.

August 1, 2013 03:32 am at 3:32 am |

Kman66

Wow – the only thing I know for CERTAIN after reading these messages, you Liberals are very bitter and vile people at the core. Seriously, read some of these childish remarks then go look in the mirror. This is who you affiliate yourselves with. Yuck.

August 1, 2013 04:08 am at 4:08 am |

hollywooddood

he's sounding more like his daughter meghan every day....good for him.....he's finally comin round

August 1, 2013 04:23 am at 4:23 am |

captiosus

The front page link to the article said "McCain has an oops moment". Correction, he's been having an "oops" moment since the end of his 2000 presidential campaign. He went from being a moderate Republican who was (more or less) respected to being a flip flopper who cuddled up with the Bush administration, found a kindred warhawk spirit in Dick Cheney, and then tried to pretend to be the "Maverick" again in 2008 while pandering to the GOP base.

I firmly believe he isn't going to run again or he's suffering increasingly poor health so he's trying a last ditch attempt to reclaim the "moderate maverick" persona before he's no longer a Senator. Sadly, all it does is make him look like a dodgy old man who can't make up his mind.

August 1, 2013 04:43 am at 4:43 am |

Sane Person

Wow. I can't wait to read the story about him accidentally walking off with someone else's pen.

August 1, 2013 04:58 am at 4:58 am |

BeverlyNC

McCain has spent the last 20 years in increasing senility and changing his positions from one day to the next. He is long past the need for retirement. He chose Sarah Palin and ushered in the extremist Republican Party movement destroying our nation. He has been a constant obstructer – a full participant in the 421 filibusters in the Senate to stop all bills for jobs, job training, education, infrastructure, economic recovery programs, middle class help from greedy fraudulent banks, and even standing against aid and healthcare for returning veterans. What a immoral hypocrite.

August 1, 2013 05:28 am at 5:28 am |

Rob

You are the reason this clown is in office McCain. In fact, I thought you had joined the Liberal Democrats years ago!

August 1, 2013 05:35 am at 5:35 am |

jim atmad

Mr McCain's family really needs to quietly escort him off of the public stage. He has become a real embarrassment to his own legacy.

August 1, 2013 05:38 am at 5:38 am |

Clarke

Why is this news. People do it everyday, we are human.

August 1, 2013 06:02 am at 6:02 am |

reddog9500

McCain should have taken the President up on his invitation to join the meeting. Maybe he and the other participants from the other side might have been able to actually been able to accomplish something...together.

August 1, 2013 06:15 am at 6:15 am |

Jerry

McCain has never impressed me, he's too wishy-washy, and if the REPUBs don't find someone with a brain they'll never be in power again..

August 1, 2013 06:39 am at 6:39 am |

Gail Gagnon

Why is this even a story? I think everyone has done this at some time. This is not age related either. Waste of copy space.

August 1, 2013 07:01 am at 7:01 am |

sparky

Not as big of oops moment when he picked Sarah Idiot to be his vice president